Chennai
I did not become an autorickshaw driver by choice, but I fell in love with the job after I took it up. My name is Suresh. I am from Veppampatti in Dharmpuri district, but I have made Vyasarpadi my second home. Unable to find a job even after graduating in Commerce in 1993 from Theagaraya College in Chennai, I was forced to find a way to make ends meet. That is when I started driving an autorickshaw. I started off as a share auto driver and after gaining experience for five years, I managed to buy one for myself. There was no looking since then. My day begins even before sunrise. I usually take the first suburban train at 4 am from Vyasarpadi and go to Villivakkam to pick up my auto. Chennai Egmore railway station is where I have my stand and I mostly cater to train passengers.
I work for around 17 hours a day and unlike other jobs, I don’t have a specific day off. I hardly get four hours of sleep. I make around Rs 500 to Rs 600 a day. Excluding the expenses incurred by the vehicle, I am left with about Rs 300 at the end of the day. I play chess, carrom and football when I don’t work. My aim is to make my son earn a black belt in karate. I am ready to do whatever it takes to make my son reach greater heights in future.
— As told to Shrivatsan
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